Despite the corona crisis, Antwerp’s main park, the Stadspark, is still open, and it is going to be the focus of an exciting series of temporary art installations, under the name ‘Public Space’. Between friday May 15 and sunday October 25, the park will be host to a series of interesting art works by young and aspiring artists. First up is Tramaine de Senna (1981), an artist who was born in California, but who lives and works in Antwerp.
The Stadspark has always been a focal point for art. Ever since its inauguration in 1869, the park is adorned with statues and monuments depicting or celebrating noted historical figures such as painters and poets, monarchs, and military men.
Now, a disused stone plinth offers contemporary artists the opportunity to add new figures to this vacant space and by doing so, reflect upon the meaning of public representation today. Who do we put on a pedestal? Who deserves a statue? Who gets to occupy common space?
Public Figure is initiated and curated by Samuel Saelemakers, curator of the Public Art Collection of Middelheim Museum in Antwerp. Incidentally, this year Middelheim is celebrating its 70th birthday as Antwerp’s foremost sculpture park. The park remains open during the corona crisis, but all indoor pavillions as well as the cafe are closed, at least until May 3.
Tramaine de Senna’s work revolves around possible transformations and ambiguous manifestations of body, identity and form. She will be the first artist to exhibit on the empty plinth in the park. If corona regulations get lifted, everyone will be able to enjoy this new artwork for free.
Read more information on ‘Public Figure’ and on Tramaine de Senna’s work on the website of the Museum of Contemporary Arts in Antwerp (MUHKA).
Tramaine de Senna also has her own website.
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